Captain's Turn!

United manager Tommy Wright held good to his promise by dropping number one keeper Paul Murphy and promoting reserve keeper Sean O'Neill. He didn't however drop Gary Haveron but pushed him into midfield, with 17 year-old Johnny Flynn taking his place, in his first full game for the senior team alongside Captain Albert Watson. Simon Kelly returned at rightback replacing Thomas Wray another player who was less than impressive last Saturday. Mark Picking was preferred up front to Randal Reid alongside Kelbie, while Aiden Watson got the nod ahead of David Cushley in midfield. This meant no place for veteran Nigel Boyd, who didn't even make the subs bench and subsequently left United with only the sparest of cover, e.g. either midfielders or strikers. United began the game attacking their favourite goals and looked menacing from the outset. Former United keeper Greg Shannon was completely fooled by a 35 yard free kick from Simon Kelly which thudded off his crossbar before going over for a goalkick. That chance came early on in the game and shortly after disaster struck for the visitors when defender Andy Hunter was stretchered off with what looked like a broken leg (as yet unconfirmed). United had their best spell during this period and should have taken the lead on a couple of occasions. United's corners have been to say the least disappointing over the last few games and last night young Craig McClean was given the task of delivering them from the right, with his left foot. From his second effort Gary Haveron headed goalwards only to have his effort kicked off the line with the keeper stranded. Craig's corner seemed to have a knock-on effect and a Mark Picking corner from the other side eluded the Crues cover and somehow eluded Albert Watson when only a touch was needed. Crusaders finally got their act together and keeper O'Neill saved a David Rainey shot with his legs. During this half we witnessed one of those bizarre incidents with which Irish football is plagued, when Mark Picking accused a visiting player of feigning injury and referee Best invited him to leave the field, which he at first refused to do, but then did and proved Picking to be correct in his assumption. Should the referee not have cautioned the culprit for deliberately feigning injury, is this not cheating? Obviously referee Best thought different (I have avoided the obvious pun here of the 'best' man to judge) and he after all is the man who matters most in this case. Halftime though was reached with the scores level and United fans looked forward to the second period with anticipation but just in the back of their minds was the thought that they had missed too many chances in the first period.

The old story about it being a game of two halves was never better illustrated than in this game as the Crues came out with 'all guns blazing' in the second half. They were aided somewhat by a linesman (or should I say referee's assistant), who never seemed to be up with the play and gave United even more food for thought. As is so often the case in these scenarios it was United who took the lead, completely against the run of play it must be said. Mark Picking popped up on the right wing to win a corner for the home team and Craig McClean trotted over to take another inswinger. The Crues defence were at sixes and sevens and as the ball dropped young Johnny Flynn reacted quickly to hammer a left foot shot into the net. This goal came in the 63rd minute and two minutes later Gary Haveron limped out of the game to be replaced by Stuart King. This seemed like a strange substitution from my part as King is not renowned for giving cover to his fullback, in this case Craig McClean. Six minutes later and the Crues were level and once again the linesman was behind play and didn't see Davey Rainey in an offside position. As he advanced on goal United keeper O'Neill dived at his feet, but the veteran striker threaded the ball past him and into the net to level the scores. United manager Tommy Wright took off Garth Scates and brought on Randal Reid and Picking moved onto his more accustomed right wing berth. Young defender Johnny Flynn gave his colleagues a scare when his attempted clearance merely ballooned up in the air, but was scrambled to safety. Crusaders clinched their place in the final when yet 'another United clanger' allowed them the luxury of a 'two on one' situation inside the home penalty area. The 'culprit' this time was Captain Albert Watson when he inexplicably missed a free header and Rainey took full advantage to slot the ball past keeper O'Neill. United manager Tommy Wright then threw caution to the winds bringing on Fitzy in place of Craig McClean, but I'm afraid it was a case of 'too little too late' and United succumbed to defeat fairly easily or as some fans would say, too easily. The United manager now has the unenviable task of not only getting his beleaguered troops up for the 'return game' (Carnegie league match), at Seaview on Saturday, but instilling belief in his team that they can go and win by 3 clear goals at Dungannon next Tuesday night in their last C.I.S. cup match, all I can say is, rather him than me. I would just like to direct a question at the small section of United fans who booed the team and manager off at the end, what sort of fans are you? Do you seriously think the manager and team went out to perform badly? Of course they didn't, you know the old saying, 'when the going gets tough, the tough get going and get going we will, depend on it. Don't forget to check out Omar's hard hitting column which makes a long awaited return and turn out in force at Seaview, remember, we are Sky Blue, we will come through!


O'Neill 7 Aid Watson 6 MoM: Picking

Kelly 6 Picking 7

McClean 7 Kelbie 5

Scates 5 Melaugh 6 Referee: D. Best 4

Alb Watson 6 1st Sub: King 5

Flynn 7 2nd Sub: Reid 6

Haveron 6 3rd Sub: Fitzy 5